michael, the president today named john kerry to be secretary of state. it had been widely believed he wanted to choose the u.n. ambassador, susan rice. john kerry. what do you make of the choice? >> i think it's a safe choice an a good choice. this is a man who has had three decades on the foreign relations committee. former presidential candidate. would have immediate standing on the global stage, similar to the hillary clinton in this kind of job. he's also been a troubleshooter for the president in some key ways under the radar screen. when south sudan was separating from the north and it looked like those negotiations were breaking down, kerry came in and really made a difference there. so i think-- he looks good. after the rice nomination. he has less controversial nominee. he has a lot of respect among his colleagues in the senate. and so i think that the president, you know, is not-- is not a hard choice. >> i think james mann and david ignatius put it very well. i mean that he is-- he is experienced, probably unmatched in experience. he does brin